KBR provides Triton mission support

KBR has been awarded two separate contracts of undisclosed value supporting the first MQ-4C Triton aircraft which will be delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force’s this year. The MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) will provide long-range, persistent surveillance across Australia’s maritime approaches and its broader areas of interest, complementing the RAAF’s manned P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA).

The contracts with the Department of Defence will see KBR support Triton’s aeronautical and geospatial requirements, mission planning network development and mission planning. Adelaide-based KBR is likely to be heavily involved as the Triton Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) will be headquartered at Adelaide RAAF Base Edinburgh although the UAVs themselves will mostly operate from RAAF Base Tindal, near Darwin.

The new contracts include surveying airfields which will be integral to activation of the sites to enable the operation of the aircraft. This data is then used to produce complex mission plans that the MQ-4C Triton’s remote Air Vehicle Pilot will use to taxi, takeoff, conduct missions and land.

These contracts build on the company’s work to date supporting the Triton UAV. Last year, KBR’s team supported a range of technical activities to support Triton operations in Australia.

The first of four Tritons ordered by the RAAF, plus associated support and mission systems, is due to be delivered in the second half of 2024. The RAAF plans eventually to acquire seven Tritons, but decisions on the acquisition of the final three UAVs may wait until Defence publishes its Integrated Investment Program later this year.